CARTWRIGHT, THOMAS, 1634-1689.
Sermons, 1667.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 033

ACCESS: Unrestricted

REPRODUCTION: All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

COPYRIGHT: Information on copyright (literary rights) available from repository.

CITATION: Thomas Cartwright Sermons, MSS 033, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.

Thomas Cartwright was born at Northampton, England on 1 September 1634. He was educated at Northampton then attended Oxford University. While at Oxford he studied under Thomas Tully, a puritan divine. However, he was ordained by the episcopal Bishop of Oxford living in retirement. Cartwright was appointed Chaplain to the Sheriff of London in 1659. With the Restoration of the monarchy, he professed an ardent loyalty and became Vicar of Barking in 1660. Cartwright obtained may preferments including the Prebendary of St. Paul, Vicar of St. Thomas', Prebendary of Wells, Prebendary of Durham and Dean of Ripon. Having cultivated a relationship with James, Duke of York, Cartwright was nominated to the see of Chester upon James' accession. The appointment caused scandal due to his purported bad moral character and his opinions which favored setting the king above the law. At his ordination, Cartwright tripped and fell, which was perceived as a bad omen. His relationship with James II caused him to side with the King against the other Bishops of the Church. After James was deposed, Cartwright shared his unpopularity and was forced to follow his king into exile at Saint-Germanins. In March 1689 Cartwright accompanied James II to Ireland where he died of dysentery on 15 April 1689. Among family mentioned in his diary were his sons John, Richard, Charles, Thomas, and  Gervas as well as his wife and daughters Alicia and Sarah. (Information taken from the Dictionary of National Biography where a more complete biography exists.)

The sermons of Thomas Cartwright (1667) are contained in one volume with a date of 1667 and no identification of author. The volume is bound in leather and contains fourteen sermons in addition to a portion of one sermon and a list of places at which the sermons have been preached. The list includes places in East London and one place referred to only as B. Thomas Cartwright was Vicar of Barking from 1660 to 1689 as well as holding positions at Ripon and Durham, places included in the list. The opinions expressed in the sermons are in line with those of Cartwright. Words and phrases in the volume are underlined in either red or purple, probably signifying emphasis.